Rep. Scott Peters released the following statement on 20, which will be read today at a rally in support of Peter Liang:

“I have enormous sympathy for the friends and family of Akai Gurley. I know he was a father, a brother and a son who is very, very missed.  I also know that our country has been roiled by anger and mistrust because too many unarmed African-American men have been killed in police shootings, or by other means, such as in the case of Eric Garner, and very few have been convicted for them.

I send my deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Gurley. I feel very sorry, too, for Peter Liang and his family who are also suffering because of this dreadful accident that unfortunately occurred at a time when prosecutors are under intense scrutiny and pressure to hold police officers accountable.

Based on the facts as I know them, Peter Liang made a terrible and deadly mistake while doing a dangerous job. He did not see his victim, he did not know the victim’s race, and did he did not intend to hurt him.  I don’t understand how this young officer could be convicted of a felony for what seems like a horrible and tragic accident, when the officer responsible for the death of Eric Garner – a victim who screamed for breath while an officer suffocated him by force - walks free. I have great respect for our rule of law. I strongly support vigilance when it comes to holding police officers accountable to act responsibly and without prejudice.  But in the case of Peter Liang, it does not seem to me that justice was served.”